Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-06-14

hONcNci, voo Nhilo hJlnB lHlO tuv iuoHi, HI
hair literally standing on end with terror.
"0h, God help us, sir" ho calculated In Q
frightened whisper, "heres corpse coming
sliding down the PASSAGE
For moment was puzzled, but presently
OF course, II struck me that ho must have
seen Ayesha. wrapped in her grave like gar.
ment, and been deceived by tho extraordinary
undulating smoothness OF her walk into DO.
lief that sio was white ghost gliding to
ward him. Indeed, at that very moment tho
question was settled, for Ayesha herself was
In the apartment, or rather cave. Job turned
and saw her shoeted form, and then, with a
convulsive howl of "llcre it comesm sprang
into corner, and iammed his face against
the wall, and Ustane, guessing whose the
dread presence must be Frustrated herself
upon her face.
"Thou contest in good time, Ayesha,"
said "for my boy lies at tho point of death. "
49, sho said, softly provided ho he not
dead It is no matter. W | can bring him
back to life, my Holly. Is that man there
thy servants amt is that The method where
vita thy servants greet strangers in thy
country"
"He is frightened of thy garb; 1t hath .
death like air" answered.
She laughed.
@And the girll All, sec now. 1t is she OF
whom thou didst speak to me. Well, bid
them both to leave us, and we will sec to
this sick Lion of thine. love not that under
lings should perceive my wisdom"
Thereon told Ustane in Arabic and Job in
English both to leave the room-an order
Oh 10 l,N al.
was glad to obey, for he could not in any
way subduo his fear. But it was otherwise
with Ustane.
"What does She wantp sho whispered,
divided between her fear OF the terrible
queen and her anxiety to remain near Leo.
at is surely right Of u wife TO be near her
husband when he dcth. Nav. will not so,
my lord the Baboon."
"Why doth not that woman leave US, my
Hollyn asked Ayesha, from the other end OF
the cave, where she was engaged in care
lessly examining some sculptures OH the wall.
"She doth not like to leave Leo answered,
not knowing what TO say. Ayesha wheeled
round, and, pointing TO tho girl Ustane, said
ono word, and one only, but it was quite
enough, for the tone in which it was said
meant volumes.
"Gol"
And sullenly Ustane crept past her on her
hands and knees, and went.
"Thou secst, my Holly" said Ayesha, with
a little laugh, it was time gave these
people lesson in obedience. The girl went
nigh to disobeying me, but then she did not
learn this morning how treat the disobedi-
ent. Well, she has gone; and now let me SEQ
the YOUTH" and she glided toward the couch
on which Leo lay, with his face in tho shadow
and turned to the wall.
ale hath a noble shape she said as she
bent over him to look upon his face.
Next second her tall AMI willowy form was
staggering back across the room, as though
she had been shot or stJ bed, staggering back
till ut last she struck tho cavern wall, and
then there burst from lier lips the most awful
and unearthly scream that ever heard in all
my life.
"What Is it, Ayesha Z" l cried. ais he
dead ~
She turned end sprang toward me liAe
LigreSs
Thou dog" she said, in hor terrible wills
per, which sounded like tho hiss of snake;
why didst thou hide this from mef and sho
stretched out her arm, and l thought she was
going to Stay me.
"Whatr calculated, in the most lively
terror-"whatP
"Ah!p she said, "perchanco thou didst not
know. Learn, my Holly, learn; there lies
there lies my lost Kallikrates. Kallilsrates,
who has come back TO mo ut last, as | know
he would-as l knew he would" and she
began to sob and to laugh, and generally to
oil
murmuring, "Kallikrates, kallihrates."
Nonsense" thought l to myself, but did
not like to say it.; and, indeed, at that mo-
ment was thinking of Leo's life, having for
gotten everything else in that terrible anx-
iety. What feared now was that ho should
die whilst she was carrying OH"
"Unless thou canst help him, Ayesha,n I
put in, by way of reminder "thy KALI
lrates will soon be far beyond thy calling
Surely, he dieth even now"
"True," she said, with n start aOh, why
did not come beforel l am unnerved-ny
hand trembles, even mine-and yet it is very
easy. Here, thou Holly, take this vial, )" and
she produced u tiny jar of pottery from the
folds of her garment, "and pour the liquid in
it down bis throat II will cure him If he he
not dead Swift now, swift the man dies."
l glanced toward him; it was true enough,
Leo was in his death struggle. l saw his
poor face turning ashen, and the breath began
to rattle in his throat. The vial was stop
pered with little piece of wood. drew it
with my teeth, and drop of the fluid within
flew upon my tongue. 1t had sweet flavor.
and for a second made my head swim and a
mist gather before my eyes, but happily the
effect passed away as swiftly as it had arisen.
When reached Leo's side he was plainly
expiring-his golden head was slowly turn
ing from side to side, and his mouth was
slightly open. called to Ayesha 10 hold his
head, and this she managed to do, though the
woman was quivering from head to foot, like
nn aspen leaf or startled horse Then,
forcing the jaw little more open, poured
the contents of the vial into his mouth. In
stantly little vapor arose from it, as hap
pens when one disturbs nitric acid, and this
sight did not increase my hopes, already faint
enough, of the efficacy of the treatment.
One thing, however, was certain, the death
throes ceased-at first thought because he
had got beyond them and crossed the awful
river. His face turned livid pallor, and his
heart beats, which had been feeble enough
before, seemed to die away altogether only
the eyelid still twitched n little In my
doubt l looked up at Ayesha, whose head
wrapping had slipped back in her excitement
when she went reoing across the room. She
was still holding Leos head, and, with faco
as pale as his, watching his countenance with
such an expression Of agonized anxiety as l
have never seen before. Clearly she did not
know if he would live or die Five minutes
passed, and | saw that she was abandoning
hope; her lovely oval face seemed to fall in
and grow visibly thinner beneath the pressure
of mental agony, whose pencil drew black
lines about the hollow OF her eyes. The coral
faded even from her lips, till they were as
white as Leo's face, and quivered pitifully. 1t
was shocking to see her; even in my own
grief felt for hers.
as it too latel" gasped.
She hid her face in her hands and made no
answer, and /, too, turned away. But as |
did SO heard deep drawn breath, and,
looking down, perceived n line of color creep
ing up Leo's face, then another and another,
and then-wonder Of wondeIs!-the man VIC
had thought dead turned over on his side.
"Thou secst.' said, in n whisper
~ SEQ" she answered, hoaIseR ale is
saved. thought we were too late; another
monochrome little moment more-and he
had been gone" and she burst into an awful
flood of tears, sobblng MS though her heart
would break, and yet managing to look love
lier than ever as she did it. At last she ceased.
"Forgive me, my Holly-forgive mo for
my weakness sho said. Thou seest, after
mn